"If not now, then when," says Gäbler at the start of his America's Cup project. The multiple Tornado world champion and Olympic medallist in the Tornado wants to be represented by a German team at the 2017 defence off Bermuda. "The technological expertise for this is definitely available in Germany, we live in a technological paradise after all," says the 50-year-old from Bremen.
His original plan was not to be part of a team until the next Cup in 2020. He wanted to build this up slowly, including by taking part in the GC32 Cup with foiling catamarans and the Youth America's Cup. However, the surprising decision by the Cup organisers to compete in the upcoming Cup with smaller 48-foot catamarans instead of the planned AC62 gave the project a boost.
(The new class rules can be downloaded here.)
"Suddenly the Cup has become sponsor-financed," says Gäbler. The participation of France, Japan and China is very likely, so why not one from Germany, he asks. "The organisers have a very interesting package on offer," says Gäbler. They are offering a complete boat that is close to the technology level of the other challengers and can be used to set sail immediately.
Development work would then primarily take place on the foils. "Today, it's no longer a question of taking off at all, but how," says Gäbler. In other words, at what speed the boat takes off and how manoeuvrable it remains.
Contracts with technology partners are already in the pipeline, and two new German catamaran projects, which are currently still in the prototype phase, are to serve as test platforms.
The most important task for him now is to find sponsors; 4.6 million euros per year until the Cup, i.e. almost 14 million euros, are needed.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
